Australia will host the international military air exercise “Pitch Black 2026” from July 20 to August 7 in the northern part of the country.
According to sea-news.az citing the Australian Department of Defence, that more than 100 aircraft and military forces from 19 countries will participate in the drills. The participating nations include Brunei, the United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Spain, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Thailand, Fiji, the Philippines, Finland, France, Sweden, and Japan.
“Pitch Black” is considered the largest international air combat exercise organized by the Royal Australian Air Force. During the drills, participants will conduct operations in highly realistic combat scenarios across one of the world’s largest military training areas.
Royal Australian Air Force representative Matt McCormack stated that the main goal of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between allied and partner nations:
“Pitch Black 2026 is crucial for both Australia’s and the region’s preparedness and collective security. Joint training under complex scenarios strengthens coordination among our forces and demonstrates our commitment to regional stability and security.”
The exercise is regarded as one of the key international military cooperation platforms for strengthening security in the Indo-Pacific region.
